San Francisco animal shelter, at capacity, asks people to wait to give up unwanted dogs

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San Francisco Animal Care & Control is asking people to hold off on giving up their unwanted dogs due to a lack of space at their shelter. (AP file photo)

San Francisco Animal Care & Control is asking people to hold off on giving up their unwanted dogs due to a lack of space at their shelter. (AP file photo)

With no kennel space available for incoming dogs at its shelter, San Francisco Animal Care & Control is asking anyone considering giving up their dogs to hold off until there is room to accommodate the animals.

The taxpayer-funded shelter, which said it is experiencing an “unprecedented and severe dog overcrowding situation,” has reached its capacity.

On average, the shelter has been accepting 25 more dogs per month than in previous years.

Until the shelter has room to accept new animals, members of the public who find stray dogs are being asked to temporarily house them and to register that they have found a dog.

Animal Care & Control hopes to free space for dogs by reducing adoption fees by 50 percent through Sept. 12.

Regular adoption fees for dogs at the shelter range from $135 to $175, including spay or neuter surgery, a microchip, shots, a city dog license, and a veterinarian exam.